SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-6041.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $39,090 | $3,258 | $752 | $18.79 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $46,440 | $3,870 | $893 | $22.33 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $59,090 | $4,924 | $1,136 | $28.41 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $75,850 | $6,321 | $1,459 | $36.47 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $85,130 | $7,094 | $1,637 | $40.93 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Traffic Technicians is $59,090, which is 16% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 18 by median pay. With 7,860 jobs, it makes up about 0.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Traffic Technicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($79,110), Minnesota ($77,810) and Washington ($71,960). The lowest was in Michigan ($37,890), Louisiana ($42,710) and Tennessee ($44,970). The most jobs were in California (1,250), New York (950) and Florida (710). The occupation is most concentrated in Tennessee, where its share of all jobs is 2.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,250 | $79,110 | $75,890 | $38.03 |
| Minnesota | 60 | $77,810 | $73,250 | $37.41 |
| Washington | 70 | $71,960 | $77,040 | $34.59 |
| New York | 950 | $71,670 | $73,180 | $34.46 |
| Indiana | 120 | $71,000 | $64,930 | $34.14 |
| Illinois | 40 | $70,970 | $72,170 | $34.12 |
| Iowa | 30 | $68,100 | $63,520 | $32.74 |
| Pennsylvania | 60 | $65,610 | $63,460 | $31.55 |
| New Jersey | 110 | $64,240 | $66,050 | $30.88 |
| Massachusetts | 90 | $63,780 | $69,450 | $30.66 |
| Virginia | 90 | $62,270 | $66,190 | $29.94 |
| Utah | 30 | $61,970 | $63,620 | $29.79 |
| Ohio | 210 | $61,460 | $60,010 | $29.55 |
| Nebraska | 40 | $61,380 | $58,000 | $29.51 |
| Oklahoma | 90 | $60,750 | $58,360 | $29.21 |
| Maryland | 140 | $60,650 | $65,010 | $29.16 |
| Arizona | 310 | $59,980 | $63,110 | $28.84 |
| Wisconsin | 40 | $58,940 | $62,920 | $28.34 |
| Idaho | 70 | $57,180 | $60,240 | $27.49 |
| South Carolina | 150 | $57,080 | $57,030 | $27.44 |
| North Carolina | 110 | $56,800 | $58,500 | $27.31 |
| Missouri | 220 | $56,720 | $58,070 | $27.27 |
| West Virginia | 70 | $53,400 | $51,560 | $25.67 |
| Nevada | 190 | $53,100 | $63,460 | $25.53 |
| Alabama | 130 | $52,060 | $51,980 | $25.03 |
| Florida | 710 | $51,220 | $54,740 | $24.62 |
| Connecticut | not published | $50,400 | $55,000 | $24.23 |
| Wyoming | 30 | $50,120 | $53,830 | $24.10 |
| Arkansas | 50 | $49,550 | $51,910 | $23.82 |
| New Mexico | 80 | $49,280 | $49,460 | $23.69 |
| Texas | 650 | $48,770 | $51,910 | $23.45 |
| Georgia | 220 | $48,110 | $53,750 | $23.13 |
| Kansas | 160 | $47,100 | $48,580 | $22.65 |
| Tennessee | 460 | $44,970 | $49,540 | $21.62 |
| Louisiana | 130 | $42,710 | $44,370 | $20.54 |
| Michigan | 100 | $37,890 | $49,890 | $18.22 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890 a year
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$61,770 a year
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers$60,600 a year
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050 a year
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870 a year
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640 a year
Common questions
How much do Traffic Technicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $59,090 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,090 and the highest-paid 10% more than $85,130.
How many people work as Traffic Technicians?
About 7,860 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.